Operator of equine rescue facing animal cruelty charges (US)

Saturday, 9 October 2010

The operator of an equine rescue in Berkeley County where more than 50 horses and two cows were seized last month after being found with little to eat or drink has been charged with animal cruelty, according to court records.

Mary O’Brien, 36, was arraigned Thursday by Berkeley County Magistrate JoAnn Overington on 56 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and placed in Eastern Regional Jail on a $280,000 bond, according to jail and magistrate court records.

Authorities on Sept. 11 took the horses and cows from Hidden Meadows Equine Rescue Inc. at 227 Edward Drive off Scrabble Road after investigating an animal cruelty complaint, according to court records.

In a visit to the equine rescue Sept. 10, Berkeley County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Myers said several water containers were empty with “hard dried mud” in the bottom of them, according to a complaint filed with the court.

Myers found one horse that appeared to be dead and noticed another horse that was attempting to stand, but was too weak to move its head. The animal’s ribs and hip bones were clearly visible, Myers wrote in the complaint.

A veterinarian who was asked to respond to the equine rescue made the decision to put the horse down, Myers wrote.

In a small building on the property, Myers also found a horse that appeared be pregnant and without any food or water, according to court records. Horses appeared to be in need of immediate foot care, according to Myers’ complaint.

While walking the property, Myers found holes drilled for posts that had been left open, several pieces of wire strewn throughout, boards with protruding nails and a hot electric wire lying on the ground, according to court records.

Animal Control officers who responded to the property Sept. 9 told Myers they found no food for the animals and very limited areas of water available, according to court records.

After assessing each animal, veterinarian Christine F. Bridges determined that several horses had a “body score” of 1 or 2, primarily due to severe malnourishment, according to court records.

Bridges used the Henneke Scoring System when scoring the horses. The system is a scientific method of evaluating a horse’s body condition regardless of breed, body type, sex or age, according to the Habitat for Horses website. The system scores horses on a scale of 1 to 9 with 1 being poor and 2 being very thin, 5 reflecting the ideal weight, and 9 being overweight. It is now widely used by law enforcement agencies as an objective method of scoring a horse's body condition in horse cruelty cases. The chart is accepted in a court of law.

After being removed from Hidden Meadows, eight horses needed critical care and were taken to Days End Rescue in Lisbon, Md., for 24-hour treatment, according to court records. At least one horse taken there died.

Police said seven horses died and another had to be put down at Hidden Meadows in the days leading up to the seizure of the animals. Myers said last week that 53 horses were seized.

Acting on a suggestion from Bridges, the Berkeley County Commission established an “equine protection” revenue fund last week to help the county readily accept public contributions for the care of horses that are found in abused and neglected condition.

The malnourished condition of the horses, all of which have since been adopted, prompted an outpouring from the community, which donated significant amounts of hay, grain, medication and supplies for the animals.